MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Allegheny College has tabbed former Division III student-athlete and veteran assistant coach Lacey Phillips as the sixth women's soccer head coach in program history.

Phillips has spent seven seasons in collegiate coaching spanning three divisions. Most recently, she served two seasons assisting with the women's soccer program at NCAA Division I Loyola in Baltimore, Md. Prior to Loyola, she spent one season at Howard Community College in Columbia, Md., and four seasons at NCAA Division III Stevenson in Owings Mills, Md. She completed her playing career as a four-year member of the women's soccer team at NCAA Division III York (Pa.).

"I am proud and honored to become the next Women's Soccer Head Coach at Allegheny College," said Phillips. "I am extremely grateful to Director of Athletics Bill Ross, [Assistant Director of Athletics] Sean King and the entire search committee for their time, hospitality and confidence entrusted in me to lead this program to new heights.

"I'm excited and eager to inspire a passion for success through cultivating relationships, building a positive team culture and instilling a winning mentality. I look forward to arriving on campus to start working diligently with the team to elevate every aspect of the program and to support the players on their continuation to maintain academic excellence."

At Loyola, Phillips gained experience planning and executing training sessions for both the team and individuals and small groups, while also providing scouting reports on opponents, and assisting with travel logistics, equipment management and game day operations at the Division I level. From the 2018 season to the 2019 season, the Greyhounds saw an improvement from getting results in seven matches to earning a result in 12 matches, including an increase from three to seven results in the Patriot League and improvement from ninth to fourth in the regular season standings. That 2019 season also saw Loyola advance to the Patriot League semifinals where it fell to top-seeded, and eventual conference champion, Navy in penalty kicks.

Phillips started her collegiate coaching career at Stevenson in 2013 and served as an assistant with the Mustangs for four years. In 2014, the Mustangs finished 11-6-5, including a 7-0-1 mark in MAC Commonwealth play, before knocking off No. 1 nationally-ranked Messiah in penalty kicks in the conference championship game and winning an NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship match before bowing out to eventual national champion Lynchburg (Va.). All told, the Mustangs qualified for the MAC Commonwealth postseason each year and two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) postseason tournaments as well as the 2014 NCAA appearance during her tenure.

"We believe that we have found a rising star in the coaching profession in Lacey Phillips," said King, who served as chair of the search committee. "It was abundantly clear from the beginning of this process that Lacey has the knowledge, determination and drive to take our women's soccer program to the next level."

Since 2017, Phillips has served as head girls club soccer coach for the 2005 (U16) and 2007 (U14) age groups at Ellicott City (Md.) Soccer Club.

"I want to thank Sean King and the rest of the search committee for their tireless efforts to find our next women's soccer coach," said Ross. "It was very apparent in my conversations with Lacey and the committee that we have found the right coach to help our program ascend to the top of the North Coast Athletic Conference."

Phillips graduated from York (Pa.) in 2012 with a Bachelor's degree in Sport Management. During her career, she appeared in 69 matches while helping the Spartans to the Capital Athletic Conference tournament all four years, including as a captain her senior season in 2011. She received a Master's degree in Business Technology Management from Stevenson in 2016. In April 2019, she attended the NCAA and Women Leaders in College Sports Women's Leadership Symposium and graduated from the NCAA Women Coaches Academy in December 2020. Phillips currently holds a "D" license from the United States Soccer Federation and is registered for her "C" licensure beginning this summer.

Phillips replaces Pam Monnier who served as head coach from 2016-2020 and resigned earlier this year to pursue opportunities outside of coaching.


Photo Courtesy: Larry French and Loyola Athletics